Goa is one of the most popular destinations not only for people from rest of India but also for tourists from across the globe. The beauty of India’s western coastal state, which is known for its cashew and coconut production, and Christmas and New Year celebrations are the major reasons why thousands of tourists flock to Goa particularly in December and January.
However, the sun, sand and beaches of Goa present a rosy picture that is far from the truth in the hinterland. The State of Goa is rich in natural resources and forest land. It has a good forest cover of 34% against the national requirement of 33% and nearly 62% tree cover, but unemployment is rampant.
CSR in Goa is helping improve employment and livelihood, especially in the sectors of healthcare and education. Despite the thriving tourism industry, the hospitality sector is largely absent from Corporate Social Responsibility in this friendly state.
The Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, the Directorate of Health Services, and the Goa Corporate Social Responsibility Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Panaji in October, 2023 to boost Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the state, with a focus on healthcare.
In January 2024, Goa CSR Authority signed MoUs with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Aether Energy, Central Institute for Indian Languages (CIIL), and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) to boost CSR in the sectors of education and skill development.
Where does Goa stand
As per National CSR portal, in the financial year 2021-22, the total CSR expenditure in Goa has been Rs 44.14 crore, with a total of 126 companies investing in the state under 10 different sectors. In the FY 2021-22, North Goa has enjoyed CSR benefits worth Rs 16.35 cr while South Goa witnessed CSR projects worth 13.63 cr.
Top 3 sectors
The top 3 sectors in which most of the CSR activities have been performed in the state are
Healthcare (CSR spent 17.56 cr)
Education (CSR spent 16.84 cr)
Environment (CSR spent 3.03 cr)
Top 5 companies
The top three companies spending for CSR in Goa in FY 2021-22 are respectively
Colorcon Asia Pvt Ltd (5.38 Cr)
Goa Shipyard Limited (4 Cr)
Sesa Resources Ltd (2.26 Cr)
Vedanta Ltd (1.83 Cr)
Infrastructure Logistics Pvt Ltd (1.8 Cr)
Free IVF treatment in Goa Medical College through CSR
Goa has become the first Indian state to offer free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Inauguration of this service, alongside assisted reproductive technology (ART) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), was done by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the Goa Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim In August 2023.
Talking exclusively to The CSR Journal, Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, “While doing research on couples, we found that every year around 200-300 couples from Goa go to places like Mumbai, Pune, and Kolhapur. Families even invest their savings for this purpose. There have been cases where families have fallen prey in the trap of fake doctors, lost their money and did not achieve success. Hence, the dream of becoming parents remains unfulfilled. Many such couples shared their grief with us and then we decided to help them.”
CSR of Goa Shipyard Limited
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) established in 1957, is a shipyard on the West Coast of India, functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Defence, Government of India. GSL is strategically located on the banks of river Zuari in Goa, a major international tourist destination well connected by its international airport and major port enroute all important shipping lines.
Beginning as a small barge building yard, GSL has garnered reputation as one of the most sophisticated ship builders in the Country. For over four decades, GSL has designed, built and commissioned a wide range of sophisticated vessels for varied applications in the Defence and commercial sectors with special expertise in building modern patrol vessels of Steel and Aluminium hull structure. Corporate Social Responsibility at Goa Shipyard Ltd. involves various voluntary efforts, which the Company engages itself, in order to contribute towards Social Development.
In September 2023, Goa Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho participated in a joint inspection of the Vaddem Lake Visarjan site to review aspects of safety, illumination, and cleanliness of the area, which is mostly used as a Visarjan site for immersion of Ganesh Idols in the Dabolim constituency and other parts of Vasco.
Following the inspection, the minister announced that some steps of the ramp at the Vaddem Lake had corroded and would be taken up before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival through a CSR activity from the Goa Shipyard Limited. The damaged steps of the ramp are being replaced with non-corrosive steel plates under CSR of GSL.
CSR of Power Finance Corporation Limited
Power Finance Corporation Limited announced its partnership with the prestigious 37th National Games in Goa, which took place from October 26 to Nov 9, 2023. The PSU announced its commitment to back the event by providing Rs. 2.57 crore of financial assistance to the Goa Sports Authority under its CSR for organising Medical Camps during the event.
In this regard, an MoU was signed in Goa, in the presence of Swetika Sachan (IAS), Secretary Sports, Govt. of Goa, Dr Geeta S. Nagvenkar, Executive Director of Sports Authority of Goa, Ali Shah, Executive Director (CSR) PFC, and Durgesh Rangera, GM (CSR).
‘Vision for all’ CSR programme
The Government of Goa took an initiative for vision screening of 29,725 students in government and aided schools across Goa from August 2023. This is part of the ‘Vision for all’ programme undertaken through CSR. Under this programme, students are given free spectacles and eye treatment if required free of cost. Prasad Netralay Superspecialty Eye Hospital Udupi will undertake the screening while spectacles will be given to the students through OneSight EssilorLuxottica as part of their CSR activity.
The Government of Goa started the ‘Vision for all’ program through the Goa CSR Authority in January 2023. One noteworthy contribution to the Goa CSR Authority came from Prasad Netralaya in Udupi, amounting to 1.16 crores, which is allocated for the “Vision for All” initiative. This initiative has already provided eye checkups to approximately 230,000 children.
CSR of Vedanta Sesa Goa
Vedanta Sesa Goa announced few significant initiatives including financial assistance to the Sai Nursing Institute at an event held in Sanquelim in June, 2023. The announcement was made in the presence of Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble CM of Goa, Navin Jaju, CEO- Sesa Goa, Vedanta Limited and other senior representatives from the management. The company handed over a demand draft of Rs. 60 lakhs to the management of Sai Nursing Institute with the aim of upgrading the education facilities for the benefit of the aspiring youth across Goa wishing to pursue a career in the paramedic field.
Vedanta Sesa Goa also initiated a special awareness drive across the Goa state in order to reach out to the aspiring female candidates and motivate them to pursue their careers in technical skills such as fitter, diesel mechanic, electrician, machinist, and instrument mechanic. To further encourage them, the company announced a special scholarship scheme for the first 100 girl student applicants who will enrol in these technical courses, including all ITIs in Goa.
Vedanta Sesa Goa has been imparting quality skill training to the youth across Goa since 1994 through its Sesa Technical School. Till now, over 1700+ students have passed out of this institute with almost 100% success rate in placements, as per an announcement made by the company.
